sawyer77

Hey, all! I'm SORELY behind on reading this thread, so I apologize for not knowing what's up in y'all's lives. My life is a bit more relaxing as of today, as my work schedule lightens a bit in August. I'm in "Ahhh!" mode. I had my 5th fill last Thursday (just a half-cc), to put me at 6.5 ccs in a 10 cc band. My doc was a bit hesitant to give me a fill, because he said I'm doing just fine at 6 months out with just about 50% of my EBW gone, but I told him I felt like I needed some oomph, with my last fill being 10 weeks ago, and some plateaus in that time. Some fat pics were shared by my cousin, and WOW! Do I feel glad to be at 158 and not 197 anymore! OMDog, it's really an eye opener to think back how it felt all those pounds ago. I think I had a gradual awakening to how big I was, and it's nice to see myself spiraling in the opposite direction. One interesting thing my doctor said is that he believes the band settles differently on the stomachs of SILS patients, and that he sees a better loss-rate with us. Is anyone else here a SILS (Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery) patient? Would be interesting to see if it's a trend elsewhere. [Disclaimer: I do NOT think I have a fantastic rate of loss. I just think I have a steady rate of loss. I know there are others here who have lost weight SO much quicker. For me, I just feel more comfortable with my rate. I'm a slow-and-steady, sneak-up-on-the-sweet-spot kinda girl.)

I had glue, also. And just like a previous poster, I had BR surgery with stitches and there was no pain when they were taken out.

Thanks so much! I'm so happy to be a part of this community here. :tt2:

Today, I am 6 months post-op (tomorrow marks week 26 post-op) and WOW! What a feeling it is. It's been a great journey so far. I am in the "slow and steady" club, I think, and I'm perfectly okay with that! :thumbup: I had (and still have) plateaus that prefer to hang out for a month or so. I am much more confident than I was in 2009. What a great result, regardless of the weight loss! In 6 months, I've lost 37 pounds -- in 27 weeks (my pre-op liquid diet banished 10 pounds from my frame), it averages out to 1.4 pounds a week, which is AWESOME in my eyes. It's not a race for me; I just want the pounds gone and as long as the scale moves downward, it's a celebration! I've also lost 46.25% of my Excess Body Weight. That's another WOW factor for me. That's incredible. I was a lower-BMI patient to begin with, but it really is amazing to me, this progress. I cycled 66.2 miles last Sunday for the American Cancer Society's Bike-A-Thon, starting at the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia. It was an absolute triumph for me, and I doubt I could have done it 37 pounds heavier. I've been so busy with summer work that I've gotten sidetracked with exercise. :tt2: As soon as this summer program is over in 1.5 weeks, I'm getting back in the exercise saddle. I am still holding off on a lot of clothes shopping because I know that I'll still need to go smaller with clothes. I have a hard time spending money on things I know will be obsolete in due time. My doctor did not give me my last fill because he said I was doing too well, and I do agree that it's best to sneak up on the sweet spot. I don't want to chase it down and overshoot. I've had 4 fills for a total of 6 ccs in my 10 cc band and my next fill appointment is in 9 days. I sure hope he gives me some juice then. I could use it! :w00t: If you're post-op and struggling, hang in there! Do these calculations (average pounds per week and percent of EBW), and you'll be sure to get a renewed motivation. C'mon, gang! Keep up the good work, and keep up the positive self-talk! YOU CAN DO THIS!

I want to chime in and echo -- Couch-To-5K is where it's at! :grouphug:

Not only are you losing at an impressive rate (1.5 pounds a week, as Leigha pointed out), but you've lost **35%** of your excess body weight. WOW! You should be proud, proud, proud! My surgeon wants a lower percent than that gone in ONE YEAR. Remember that where you are is better than where you were 35 pounds ago. Don't give up! Go find someone who hasn't seen you in six months, and you'll perk up in NO TIME! :thumbup:

This is a glaringly-obvious planted post -- a commercial.

I'm in! I'm doing the Labor Day challenge also, and it will be neat to have a long-term goal next to the shorter term. I am figuring on 26 pounds, and that will put me within 15-20 pounds of my final goal. :thumbup:

Yeah, man! You go get 'em!

Okay, I'm in for 10! Wahoo! :thumbup: That will put me at 151, and will put me at a mid-"overweight" BMI.

Karen, I got my iPhone upgraded on the 23rd -- the 4 is really nice! But since it's so new, there aren't really great accessories for it yet. I got a case that has some design flaws, in that the phone thinks part of the case is an ear up against the touch screen, so while the screen deactivates like it's supposed to during a call, it remains that way even after the call is done. I have to pull the phone out of the case to get my screen back. Boo. Maybe by the time yours comes, some nice accessories will be out. You will love the 4. It's got so many nice features (though many of the features aren't specific to the 4; they are in the iOS update that all iPhone users have now) and I think you'll really enjoy it. I had the iPhone 3Gs before this one, and I used (still do!) the C25K app, the B210K app, and my favorite: RunKeeper Pro. I use that app all the time! You can select running, cycling, whatever. I'm hoping my iPhone 4 (with wireless turned off, and the 3G turned off) will give me enough accuracy and battery life for the 66 mile bike ride I'm doing in NINE DAYS! ZOMG! I'm thinking of starting C25K over (I finished in March) because I haven't been running at all. The cycling has been my focus because of the huge bikeathon from Philly to Buena. Good news on my front is even without that fifth fill, I'm losing! Today my total lost is 36 pounds. WOW! I met my 4th of July challenge (I'm in shock! I thought I was destined for bandster hell forever) and I'm only a few pounds away from both an "overweight" BMI and 50% of my EBW gone. I'm so excited! Not even the crappy stuff at work can bring me down. :frown: I remember back in January when friends were asking about what I've lost so far and I was telling them, "I lost 13 pounds," with a big feeling of accomplishment. I can't wait until I can say, "I lost 80 pounds!" Thank goodness for my sleep apnea; otherwise, I'd not have been eligible for this here wonderful band. I'm working hard, but now I actually feel like the band is giving me a leg up. We have our pool ready, the backyard swing, and the chiminea -- that's all the heaven I need for the summer. I love chilling in the backyard. Too bad I have to work (I'm the type of teacher that never gets a real summer - the broke type! haha. "Teacher" and "broke" are synonymous!), but I'll still get time to enjoy the summer when I can squeeze it in. Glad to see Melody back, and sorry to hear about the troubles some of you are having. The best is yet to come! :tt1: And thanks, guys. I know I'm not here all the time, but I really, REALLY enjoy this place and benefit greatly from the support net here.

This morning, my scale told me that I made my goal! Wooo! 10 pounds gone! Maybe I'll even surpass that by Sunday/Monday for the last weigh-in. Thanks, gang, for being such a great support network. I really need this place. :frown::tt1:

I'm down two for a total of 9 lost this challenge. Only one more to go to meet my goal! Whoa! Count me in for the Labor Day challenge. This challenge really helped keep me going, and I actually got somewhere, unlike the Mothers' Day challenge back in the throes of the worst of bandster hell.

Hi Sandra! Yay for you! On my off days, I go to classes (yoga, body conditioning, etc.) or do strength training. I also ride my bike every day, at least 9 miles (to work and back). :eek:

I've had 4 fills for a total of 6 ccs in a 10 cc band. No unfills. 1st fill, 5 weeks postop: 2 ccs 2nd fill, 9 weeks postop: 2 ccs 3rd fill, 13 weeks postop: 1 cc 4th fill, 17 weeks postop: 1 cc My surgeon did not give me any fluid when I went in for my 5th fill, 21 weeks postop, because he said I was doing too well. :thumbup: I go back on July 29th, 27 weeks postop, to reevaluate.

My staples are: eggs with cheese (I never have any trouble with that cheese as the magical binding force!), yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, lettuce, decaf diet iced tea (powder in my water). Foods I avoid: [i do not have full restriction yet at 6ccs, and none of these have given me problems, but I don't want to wait to find out.] bread, rice, and then although they're sliders and would not give problems in all likelyhood, I stay away from Cookies, cakes, those tempting foods. I grab a chocolatey Protein bar if I'm really craving. The only foods that gave me problems ever were a turkey burger once and some deli turkey once. Both are foods I've eaten again without problems.

Sorry, should have been more clear -- I was bemoaning the myth of liquids in, liquids out.

Here's my grumble - "liquids in, liquids out" - Argh! The teacher in me wants to give a little 4th grade science lesson on the digestive system. We don't need to scare folks into dehydrating themselves, right? :biggrin:

I had the same after surgery, then I became constipated for a while! However, diarrhea is not caused by drinking liquids (meaning, "liquids in, liquids out," is not true). If it were, we'd have diarrhea all the time with our Water intake. Diarrhea is caused by any of several things, one of which is stress to your system. Your body is healing and there are some rough spots right after surgery, but you will get through this! Just remember to stay hydrated!

I'm 5 months postop, and I still get shoulder pain, about twice a week or so. My doctor told me today that it's an indicator of fullness, that the gas from the pouch heads to the shoulder. More reason to eat slower and stop immediately when I get the notion!

I went to the doc for my 4-week appointment today and was expecting my fifth fill. I'm 5 months post-op, and have lost 40% of my EBW. I've had 4 fills and am at 6ccs. This last fill #4 was the first one where I actually felt anything resembling restriction. I have lost 7 pounds in the last 4 weeks (says the doc's scales -- different scale readings, doc and home! Plus, doc's weigh-in is never my weigh-in time, ya know? I ONLY weigh in sans clothing and in the bright early AM) with this fill and my surgeon says he expects 40% EBW loss in one year, and I'm there already. So, no fill today. Don't fix what ain't broken, says the doc. [bTW, I'm a rule-follower by nature.] I can't say I wasn't upset at first, because I was just looking forward to the next progression of this journey, but feel great that I am doing so well. I've been really pleased with myself lately. It's been SOOO nice to get away from that plateau in May. When I lose 7 more pounds, I'm "overweight." When I lose just one more to make it 8 pounds, I'll be 50% there! I have an appointment in 6 weeks to re-evaluate, fill or no. It was an exciting little surprise today to find that my surgeon thinks I'm doing too well to fill. :thumbup: Also, I asked about the gas/shoulder pain I feel maybe twice a week. He said that's an indicator of fullness, the gas from the pouch is redirecting to the shoulder. Does anyone else still get gassed shoulder pain?

Nice! Good for you! :devil_smile:

Two words have solved this problem for me: sports bras. When I get down to my goal (I'm 40% there, yayayayay!), I will splurge for the nice bras, but for now, it's sports bras for me!

I'm down two pounds this week. Wahoo! I am feelin' this! Four pounds to go! I get a fill tomorrow so my fingers are crossed for some oomph!

I'm in the moderate camp. I go for my fills every 4 weeks on the dot. I am having my fifth fill in two days. I plan on keeping this pace until there is a reason not to. I had an empty band at surgery, and got my first fill 5 weeks post-op. My doctor would have done 4 weeks but I had a scheduling conflict. I have not felt any restriction so far until this last fill (#4, 6ccs in my 10cc band), where I got to flirt with the idea! :thumbup: I'm glad I have 4 weeks between fills to relearn, readjust and reevaluate. I believe that if you try to get your fills done quicker, you're not getting an accurate representation of your level of restriction. You may think you're too loose, and get another fill, when really it hasn't kicked in yet. My vote is always to sneak up on your sweet spot. Don't overshoot it - I'd like to vomit as little as possible on my journey.